EFCS-004
10-13
Basic First Aid
Josefa Peña, Extension Program Specialist—Health
The Texas A&M University System
In an emergency, it can be vital that you know basic first aid. Remember
these five steps:
• Stay calm so you can decide how to help.
• Make sure the scene is safe. If the area is dangerous or if the scene
becomes unsafe, move to a safe area.
• Check the victim. Is he or she awake? Breathing? Bleeding?
• Get help. Dial 9-1-1 and be able to explain exactly where you are.
• Administer first aid as needed.
Here are some actions to take for various injuries, emergencies or medical
conditions:
Choking
Choking occurs when food or small objects are lodged in the throat
or windpipe. The universal sign for choking is hands clutched over the
throat. Quick action is needed to save a life. Learn how to do the Heimlich maneuver:
• Stand behind the victim and make a fist with one hand. Place your fist
just above the person’s belly button. Your thumb should be toward the
person’s stomach.
• Reach around the person’s body and grab your fist with your other
hand. Make sure your elbows are pointed out.
• Quickly thrust upward 5 times
• Repeat these steps until the person has dislodged the object and can
breathe or has become unconscious.
If the victim becomes unconscious, lay them on their back on the floor.
Try to remove any visible blockage from their throat by reaching into
their mouth with your finger to sweep out any foreign object. Be sure not
to push the object farther into the victims airway.
If you cannot remove the object and the victim is unresponsive—begin
CPR
To prepare yourself for an emergency take a certified first aid and CPR training course. Visit the
American Red Cross at www.redcross.org to find
classes near you.
Cuts, scrapes and punctures
• Wash your hands.
• Put on gloves or use a layer of fabric or plastic
between your hands and the wound.
• Stop the bleeding by putting firm pressure on
the wound with a clean cloth.
• If the wound appears to need stitches have a
doctor examine it.
• If stitches are not needed, wash the wound
with soap and water.
• Wash hands again with soap and warm water.
• Apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage to
the wound.
• Watch for signs of infection (swelling, redness,
pain, discharge, etc.)
• Replace the bandage daily until the wound has
healed.
Nosebleeds
If a person has a nosebleed, have the person:
• Sit up straight.
• Lean their head slightly forward and put their
chin to their chest.
• Squeeze their nose shut with their thumb and
index finger and wait until the bleeding stops.
It can take 10 to 30 minutes.
• Don’t put anything up the nose to stop the
bleeding, and don’t have them lean backward
because blood will run down their throat and
cause them to vomit.
Animal Bites
• Wash the wound with soap and water.
• Control the bleeding (see Cuts, scrapes and
punctures).
Seek prompt medical attention—animal bits are
easily infected and can transmit diseases such as
rabies.
If the bleeding doesn’t stop:
• Have the person sit down.
• Raise the area that is bleeding higher than
their heart.
• Call 911
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